Review Lyara Restaurant And Bar - Cairns

Amazing food, some of the best Thai dishes I have ever had! Great coconut rice, Pad Thai, Green curry, Tom kha Gai and Papaya salad. Definitely recommend! Good atmosphere and view of water.

Wonderful Thai restaurant on the Esplanade. It is on the first level so not as visible from the street, it is much less noisy. Service was great and the food was absolutely delicious! We ordered a selection of entrees and mains and thought they were all very tasty. I especially liked the pork belly pad see ew.

I got takeaway here and had a great experience! The lady on the phone was lovely. I got the betel leaf prawn entree and soft shell crab salad. Good price, food was delicious. Packaged very thoughtfully for takeaway (sauces, crunchy garnishes all packaged separately).

Great choice of food. Limited choice of drinks but ok. Great Thai food but a little costly for Thai, even so well worth the extra. Wonderful staff. Comfortable seating, not crammed in like some. Have to access by several flights of stairs which are very tired. Shop front in uninviting but.

By far the best Thai Cuisine and dining experience we have ever had in Cairns - the flavours are just Amazing!! If your looking for the special night out then this is a place you will never forget. Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Atmosphere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Definitely very highly recommended -

The best Thai we’ve ever had. Recommended by a local colleague and I’m so glad we tried Iyara’s! The fried tofu was like no tofu we’ve ever eaten! The oysters were perfectly dressed and the prawn dish was also divine. Highly recommended!

Book by the website only, try to book on Facebook didn't work. The foods is great but have to pay lil bit more. It's fancy dining in Cairns.

Despite the restuarant being extremely busy, when we went as a walk-in, we were welcomed warmly and the staff worked as a team, went through the booking list and found us a table. Both Pim and Bella were extremely helpful and insightsful when it came to the menu and choosing food. The food was as good as it gets, especially the betel leaf prawns was something else. Overall, we had a great time. The owner/manager came and had a chat with us. It was such a busy place but they still had a smile and took time for individual care and attention.

Great viewing point from this restaurant and so lovely to be on the terrace. I absolutely adore the prawns in Beatles leaf. Such an unusual offering at most Thai places in Aus. The serving sizes here are quite small compared to your local Thai but they do pack a punch. My only critique is of the Pad Se Ew which needs more sweet and dark soy to give it that lovely depth that a great pad se ew has. <br/>All in all, if you’re looking for a nice birthday or anniversary dinner that isn’t fine dining, but still a little special go here.

We didn't book so bathe first thing we were told is "inside table only". Great- I'm not a huge fan of sitting in humidity so the air con inside suited me fine.<br/>Next we were seated at the worst table in a thoroughfare - further punishment for not booking as there were other vacant tables / which remained vacant all night.<br/>Anyway. The usual Thai offerings on the menu. We shared 3 main courses, a stir fry/ pad Thai w chicken and a curry, plus jasmine rice.<br/>Al generously portioned and tasty. Service was ok, the place is quite pretentious - I prefer genuine thai hospitality but it was fine.

The worst customer service I have never experienced before. When my friend and I entered in the restaurant with great expectations, there was no any waiters or waitresses noticing us. They ignored us and passed by, and we were the only customers here. After five minutes, a waitress finally got us a table. I was kind of disappointed at that moment, but that was not the end of the story. The waitress placed us in the very corner of the place, which was far from the main bar and concierge. When we decided our order and called for services, no one responded to us again. After another ten minutes, a waiter came by. I put my hand up and shaked it for attention. He came to us and said something really annoying, "do not shake your hands like that. I am not a dog. Next time you called waiter, you should wait until they come by." I got pretty uncomfortable about that. It looked like he was the one who should get angry. And I was forced to wait that long and do nothing. That was hilarious and unreasonable. You let your customers down as well as left them with starving stomach, in addition, you blamed them on the contrary. That did not seem normal. We really felt like being bullied by your staff.

We had late night dinner after a great day scuba diving. Saw the restaurant a few times walking by and really appreciated the look and outdoor seating. We were not disappointed as we sat outside on the soft cushions. <br/><br/>Ordered family style - so the chicken satay & curry puffs with peanut sauce great starters. Three dishes for the table - a north style chicken curry noodle dish quite new to us but great. Thin noodles in curry sauce with wonderful peanut back. Topped with crunchy noodles and excellent flavours. <br/>Chicken lemongrass main with coconut rice had excellent flavored. Chicken cooked just right and good balance of spice. <br/>Spicy beef main was best with roti and coconut rice. <br/><br/>Service was friendly and excellent. Only problem was slow and we were quite late - so seemed long night. <br/>

Tasty and flavoursome Thai food. Well presented and good variety of dishes. We had a Christmas party there and the dish sharing worked really well for the party. The only letdown was a sentiment shared by other reviewers, is that the service was disorganised and slow. We had a great time, and I would definitely eat here again.

Wow, this is another level of Thai food. I have eaten a fair bit of Thai food in my life and this was different but in a very good way. My meal was delicious and tasted unlike anything I had had before. The sauce on the chicken was lovely.<br/>My dish was - Gai Takrai ( served with salad & Jasmine Rice ) Marinated grilled chicken with lemongrass, peanut and tamarind sauce.<br/>My husband had a beef dish and enjoyed that too. Miss was happy with her chicken satay and her rice when it arrived.<br/>The service was slow but this wasn't a problem for us as we enjoyed looking at the beach and watching the nightly bat migration.

Great location, lovely atmosphere... But unfortunately this is where it ended...<br/>The service is the biggest let down and frankly just appalling. There is evidently no leadership and everything seemed to be happening haphazardly and in slow motion. Most staff were inattentive, and a few in particular were observed on more than one occasion blatantly ignoring patrons waiting at the door to be seated and waiting at the counter to pay for their meals. Once we finally managed to place our order (after having to ask for a drinks menu that was given to us as an empty folder, and then having to ask yet again for a folder that actually contained a drinks menu), we waited an hour for our mediocre meals. When they arrived, they were luke warm at best, so-so in flavour, and ridiculously small serves for dishes that they're charging $30+ for. Meanwhile, in the back corner of the restaurant, a strange Asian man was pottering around doing all kinds of odd things that could not be explained and was at first entertaining but eventually became quite creepy. I'm certain he wasn't an oddball patron given that he wasn't eating or drinking anything... And I'm not sure if it's fair to reduce my experience rating partially because of creepy man, but it concerns me that he may well have been the owner/manager/staff member of some variety. This restaurant has SO MUCH potential for a higher end Asian dining experience, if only the service and quality of food matched the dollar signs on the menu!

Fantastic food. Favourite restaurant for special family occasions. Visitors all request we go to iyara and everyone of them loves the betel leaf entree. Great location and service. Worth paying a bit extra for.

Not Worth the Bother. Supposed to be a Thai restaurant. But both the entree and main dishes had the distinct flavour of Chinese 5-spice. Did not taste like Thai food at all. Just sprinkling a few coriander leaves on something does not magically change it into Thai cuisine. Disappointed.

Best Thai in Cairns. In my opinion this is by far the best thai in Cairns and worth the higher price tag. The food is always fresh, full of flavour, and presented well with little added extras that the ordinary thai takeaway oversees. I would recommend the betel leave cones with a delicious vibrant filling. It is a little pricier then most thai but i still think its great value for money. Plus if you dine in the atmosphere on the verandah is lovely looking over the esplanade.

Restaurant was nice and clean and nicely appointed with friendly staff but that's about all I can say. Because of the expensive prices I expected the food to be amazing. It wasn't. I could get the same Thai for half the price down the street. I had the duck red curry with grapes. All 8 thin slices of the duck were precooked and dry. For $32 that duck should have been perfect! I also had to order more rice because the serving was so small. Won't be back.

Disappointing, terrible and a waste of money. We walked in looking for something with the view of the esplanade and that was the only enjoyable thing about this place. <br/>The place was empty, and its deceiving from the street view, as they sat all 3 groups of people by the glass to give the perception it was full.<br/>The portions are small, and lacked good flavour. There was a lot of heat to the spice factor but that was it, a burnt pallet. The chicken was fatty and undercooked and the beef was dry and flavourless. Strongly do not recommend this place and I am usually a forgiving diner, but with the price, the lack of service and staff knowledge of the food, very disappointing, terrible and waste of money ‘experience’ <br/>Double thumbs down!

WARNING Bad, pre cooked pad Thai. Tough dry chicken and tofu, raw noodles with lump of chilli and slither of lime only flavours added to a meal that got thrown out for fear of food poisoning!!! The only good thing about the meal was it was so small we didn't fell like we wasted food by throwing it away!!! <br/>Advertised price on menu board was $24 for the Pad Thai then charged $28 with a "sorry we haven't updated the board yet"!!!<br/>I now understand why they make you pre pay.

Expensive small portions. Third time we have had dinner here. Every time I feel like we have been ripped off as never feel satisfied with amount of food served compared with the price charged. Always need a visit to maccas post meal. Food is good though. Deep fried whole barramundi and thai red duck curry are particularly delicious. The setting is cosy and service is attentive although kitchen is slow to serve. I recommend this restaurent as there is no better in Cairns for flavour and atmosphere, however be prepared to have to spend a lot and then go somewhere else to feel satisfied. One time is enough. Use your table 52 card here!

Nice setting, good service, but the meals took quite a while to arrive, considering it was so quiet. <br/>We had the curry puffs (yum!)<br/>Red curry marinated duck (amazing!)<br/>And beef massaman ( dry beef but great flavor)<br/>It's definitely worth a try - but beware, it's spicy!!

Too expensive for what it is. The pandal lead entree and green curry was quite nice but the beef salad had only a few slithers of beef and the salmon curry looked like it had been microwaved causing the coconut milk to curdle and so was in edible.

Disappointing Expensive Meal. My first visit to Iyara was extremely disappointing. Dry overdone fishcakes, watery salmon as a main, the chicken was rubbery in the other main that was ordered. When we went up to pay, it was $64 each, for 3 ordinary main meals, 2 entrees and a bottle of white wine. I don't mind paying that for thai food if its delicious.... I will just go back to Thai Coins in the future....

Not a good experience, staff friendly but meal especially beef was not good. Menu needs more choices

Overpriced!. The most expensive fish cakes I have ever eaten, but certainly not the best. They were thin and dry and no better than a late night takeaway. We ordered an entree and two mains for two of us, but we still had to drop by the food court after dinner to fill up. Neither of us is a big eater either.<br/>The following night we got a buffet for a quarter the price from food court and it was delicious!!

Favourite Cairns restaurant. The food at Iyara is amazing. Favourites are the betel leaf for entree, and the massaman curry, tofu, and roasted duck curry for mains. <br/><br/>Great atmosphere and flawless service. Just don't forget to bring cash and something to drink as they're BYO and cash only for the moment.

Some good dishes, but very overpriced. Thai fish cakes, at $17 for two,tasted like thawed ersatz seafood. Ambience good.

Everytime I come to cairns this is one restaurant I make sure to come to. The food is so delicious. Fresh and so full of flavour. Highly recommend!

TAMARIND, MEET YOUR MATCH. Ever since moving to Cairns 3 yrs ago Ive been on a search for a place in the right location, for the right price, with the right foodand having eaten in most places that look half decent around town......well Ive finally found it.<br/><br/>Recomended to me by the head waiter of one of the best restaurants in the Pier Complex, I took my 2 good friends there for dinner. I little bit aprehensive, as they are both very involved in the catering industry and one of them is a chef, I knew they had high standards and this place was untested.<br/><br/>We all fell in love. The location is perfect down on the esplanade, but upstairs away from the car fumes and perfectly positioned for a post dinner wander with a cup full of NZ icecream.<br/><br/>They are currently cash only and BYO, but please dont let that put you off. Theres an ATM downstairs and another at the night markets a few doors down. Fill your wallet and then go fill your belly, you will not be dissapointed.<br/><br/>We tried 4 mains and 4 entrees and not one of them missed the mark. Pad Thai, fish cakes, green curry, duck with red curry & grapes, prawn rolls, oysters, every single dish was amazing.<br/><br/>Do your self a favour, you'll probably see me there because Ill be going very regularly !

Beautiful food at Iyara. We dined here last weekend and the food was beautiful, fresh, interesting and delicious. <br/>This restaurant is where the old Chapel Bar used to be upstairs on Cairns Esplanade. If you haven't tried it yet, DO!<br/>The desserts were very interesting too we were pleasantly impressed.<br/>Atmosphere is mellow and relaxing, and the owner was very informative and helpful. His wife is the chef and she sure knows how to cook. Try the tofu, even if your not a vegetarian!!

Classy thai. Can highly recommend this place, especially the betel leaf entree, refreshing to see somewhere that rises above the ubiquitous pad thai and green chicken curry featured in so many eateries

Fantastic food, friendly staff. Highly recommend the scallops with pomello and toasted coconut for entree and the pork or lemongrass chicken for main.

Great looking menu.. Unfortunately massively understaffed and we were left waiting for our meals for more then an hour. I then enquiered about the progress of ou meals to be told they have not yet been prepare so we left without eating. Better luck next time.